Bonn 2025 – scientific programme

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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik

Q 11: QED and Cavity QED

Q 11.3: Talk

Monday, March 10, 2025, 17:30–17:45, HS Botanik

Master Equation for Many-Body Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics — •Tom Schmit¹, Simon Jäger², Catalin-Mihai Halati³, Tobias Donner⁴, Corinna Kollath², and Giovanna Morigi¹ — ¹Theoretische Physik, Universität des Saarlandes, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany — ²Physikalisches Institut, University of Bonn, Nußallee 12, 53115 Bonn, Germany — ³Department of Quantum Matter Physics, University of Geneva, Quai Ernest-Ansermet 24, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland — ⁴Institute for Quantum Electronics, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Otto-Stern-Weg 1, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland

Ensembles of atoms strongly coupled with the electric field of an optical cavity offer a formidable laboratory for studying the out-of-equilibrium dynamics of long-range interacting systems in the quantum regime. In this work, we derive a quantum master equation describing the optomechanical dynamics of the atomic ensemble, by eliminating the cavity degrees of freedom in perturbation theory. The master equation can capture the dynamics over a broad range of mechanical energies, from the thermal gas down to the ultra-cold, quantum degenerate regime. It can further systematically include the effect of external potentials, such as an optical lattice. We reproduce known limits and benchmark the master equation’s prediction with exact diagonalization of the full quantum problem. Our model sets the basis for a systematic analysis of the dynamics of the characteristic timescale and correlations of quantum self-organization.

Keywords: Cavity QED; Self-organization; Quantum master equation; Optomechanics; Long-range interaction